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BERRI VISITS ARMENIA, LASHES OUT AT ISRAEL
The Daily Star
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Oct-05/150504-berri-visits-armenia-lashes-out-at-israel.ashx#axzz1Zrcl6kYf
Oct 5 2011
Lebanon
BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri lashed out at Israel in a
speech before the Armenian Parliament Tuesday, declaring that the
armed struggle will continue as long as Lebanon is under threat.
"While we reiterate our commitment to United Nations resolutions ...
Israel keeps ignoring [the resolutions] and violates them on a daily
basis," said Berri in a speech from the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
"For this reason, the resistance has and will continue [to struggle
against Israel] as long as the danger remains against our territory
and threatens our [sovereign] rights," Berri added.
The speaker said that peace in the Middle East would only be possible
through the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 425 and
1701. Adopted in 1978, Resolution 425 called for the immediate Israeli
withdrawal from Lebanon, while 1701, which was adopted 28 years later,
called for the complete cessation of hostilities between the two
countries and the deployment of 15,000 United Nations peacekeeping
troops in south Lebanon.
Berri, who is on an official visit to Armenia, was accompanied by
Nabatieh MP Mohammad Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance
parliamentary bloc, and Beirut MP Arthur Nazarian, head of the
Armenian-Lebanese Friendship Committee.
Berri also said that giving up the resistance is "just like someone
calling for Israel to occupy the land."
In his wide-ranging speech in Yerevan, Berri said that foreign powers
are struggling to gain control over the developments in the Arab world.
"Mr. Speaker, in light of the developments in the Middle East,
we should be vigilant of the different foreign pressures on our
countries and the attempts [to manipulate] the popular movements
against some regimes," said Berri, addressing Armenian Parliament
Speaker Hovig Abrahamian.
"Of course we don't oppose the rightful demands of the people in the
region," continued Berri, "but we cannot but remain strong to the
face of threats against attempts to divide the region."
Commenting on the developments in Syria, Berri warned against inciting
sectarian strife in the neighboring country, adding that it would
lead to negative repercussions throughout the region.
Berri, who headed the first official Lebanese delegation to Armenia
in 1997, reiterated Tuesday the need to push the relationship between
the two countries forward. "There are 20 mutual agreements between
the two countries ... and more than 20,000 Lebanese students have
graduated from universities in Armenia."
However, Berri said that economic and trade relations between Lebanon
and Armenia have remained weak despite the strong relations between
the two countries.
"There are a lot of investment opportunities in the tourism sector
in Beirut and Yerevan," said Berri.
"We need to admit that the capacity of trade and economic relations
between our countries is not on the level of the relationship between
Lebanese and Armenians ... and I would prefer not to mention any
numbers," said Berri.
According to Berri, Yerevan could become a bridge between Lebanon
and the post-Soviet countries. "And Lebanon would also be a platform
for Armenia to expand its relations with other Arab countries,"
Berri added.
During his visit to Armenia, Berri also met with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan.
From: A. Papazian
The Daily Star
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Oct-05/150504-berri-visits-armenia-lashes-out-at-israel.ashx#axzz1Zrcl6kYf
Oct 5 2011
Lebanon
BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri lashed out at Israel in a
speech before the Armenian Parliament Tuesday, declaring that the
armed struggle will continue as long as Lebanon is under threat.
"While we reiterate our commitment to United Nations resolutions ...
Israel keeps ignoring [the resolutions] and violates them on a daily
basis," said Berri in a speech from the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
"For this reason, the resistance has and will continue [to struggle
against Israel] as long as the danger remains against our territory
and threatens our [sovereign] rights," Berri added.
The speaker said that peace in the Middle East would only be possible
through the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 425 and
1701. Adopted in 1978, Resolution 425 called for the immediate Israeli
withdrawal from Lebanon, while 1701, which was adopted 28 years later,
called for the complete cessation of hostilities between the two
countries and the deployment of 15,000 United Nations peacekeeping
troops in south Lebanon.
Berri, who is on an official visit to Armenia, was accompanied by
Nabatieh MP Mohammad Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance
parliamentary bloc, and Beirut MP Arthur Nazarian, head of the
Armenian-Lebanese Friendship Committee.
Berri also said that giving up the resistance is "just like someone
calling for Israel to occupy the land."
In his wide-ranging speech in Yerevan, Berri said that foreign powers
are struggling to gain control over the developments in the Arab world.
"Mr. Speaker, in light of the developments in the Middle East,
we should be vigilant of the different foreign pressures on our
countries and the attempts [to manipulate] the popular movements
against some regimes," said Berri, addressing Armenian Parliament
Speaker Hovig Abrahamian.
"Of course we don't oppose the rightful demands of the people in the
region," continued Berri, "but we cannot but remain strong to the
face of threats against attempts to divide the region."
Commenting on the developments in Syria, Berri warned against inciting
sectarian strife in the neighboring country, adding that it would
lead to negative repercussions throughout the region.
Berri, who headed the first official Lebanese delegation to Armenia
in 1997, reiterated Tuesday the need to push the relationship between
the two countries forward. "There are 20 mutual agreements between
the two countries ... and more than 20,000 Lebanese students have
graduated from universities in Armenia."
However, Berri said that economic and trade relations between Lebanon
and Armenia have remained weak despite the strong relations between
the two countries.
"There are a lot of investment opportunities in the tourism sector
in Beirut and Yerevan," said Berri.
"We need to admit that the capacity of trade and economic relations
between our countries is not on the level of the relationship between
Lebanese and Armenians ... and I would prefer not to mention any
numbers," said Berri.
According to Berri, Yerevan could become a bridge between Lebanon
and the post-Soviet countries. "And Lebanon would also be a platform
for Armenia to expand its relations with other Arab countries,"
Berri added.
During his visit to Armenia, Berri also met with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan.
From: A. Papazian